Francis j



(NMOdel') P. J. MERGBRET.

COMBINATION TABLE.

No. 540,178. Patented May 28, 1895.

Erm M/' vI S STATES PATEN FRANCIS J. MEROERET, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

COMBINATION-TABLE SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.- 540,178, dated May 28, 1895.

Application tiled February 20; 1895. Serial No. 539,086 (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may con/cern:

Beit known that I, FRANCIS .T MERCERET, of Baltimore city, in the State of Maryland, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Combination-Tables, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a kitchen table of a construction especially 'adapted to either inclose and hide a gas stove, or form a base for it when in use, and to serve also to purposes of a useful kitchen table when opened or a library or sitting room table when closed up, the said device being especially designed for use in light house keeping in flats or apartment houses, where door space and the hiding of unsightly culinary utensils is a great desideratum. y

My invention consists in a table adapted to carry out these objects which will be hereinafter fully described with reference to the drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical transverse section of the table when closed to hide the gas-stove and kitchen utensils and arranged as a library or sitting-room table. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section of the same when open for culinary use to form a stand for the gas-stove and a shelf for dishes, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the table in process of being opened to bring out the gas-stove.

In the drawings A represents the outer casing of the table, and A its four legs which are constructed and put together in the usual way forming' a rigid integral frame.

The top of the table is made of two sections B and B the former of which B is permanently fastened to the back part of the table, and the other portion B of which is hinged to the part B so as to fold down upon the table body, and form with B a smooth flat upper surface as in Fig. l, adapted to receive a cover and constitute a dining room or library table, or be folded over and upon the section B, as in Fig. 2, so as to form a base or stand for a gas or oil stove S and open or uncover the front part of the table.

Running longitudinally through the table is a vertical partition b, and at the ends of the table and running the full width of the ends are guide strips a upon which is supi ported a movable sliding shelf B2 that runs the full length of the table. This sliding shelf forms the top of the chamber D in which the gas stove is contained when out of use, and also forms a shelf fordishes when the gas stove is in use as in Fig. 2, sliding back on the guide strips a to give access to the chamber D as in Fig. 3 when it is desired to remove the gas stove, and forward again to constitute the dish shelf after the gas stove is set up and in use. t

Behind the partition b there are two drawers, one opening at each end of the table as at C, and into which such small culinary utensils as knives, forks, cups andsaucers, Jac., may be conveniently and Vcornpactly stored.

To keep the table clean and free from the absorption of greasy matters and the propagation of unpleasant odors and to prevent burning also, the face of the hinged leaf B is provided with a polished and cleanly kept surface b of sheet metal such as copper or zinc, and a similar metal surface b2 is applied to the tcp of the sliding shelf B2.

I am aware that kitchen tables have been variously constructed with hinged leaves, sliding shelves, and drawers, and I make no broad claim to such features, but only to the construction described which is very compact, convenient, occupying no more door space than an ordinary table, and especially well adapted to the requirements of light house keeping in Hats or apartments.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure'by Letters Patent, is-

A combination table consisting of a hollow body portion with a longitudinal partition, guide ways arranged at the ends and extending across the partition from front to back, a slidingdish-shelf adjustably arranged on said guide ways, a top made in two parts hinged about the middle on a line parallel with and above the partition and arranged to fold one upon the other as shown, and drawers arranged at the ends of the table and behind the longitudinal partition, substantially as and for the purpose described. Y

FRANCIS J. MERCERET. Witnesses:

JAMES M. DoRsEY, THOMAS W. WILLIAMS. 

